Jasper School Board Approves Personnel Reductions

Concerned with decreased revenues and a projected 40-student drop by the year 2020 at the grade school, Jasper Unit 1 School Board members Monday took a series of steps to reduce employment levels for next year.

The Board honorably dismissed professional education licensed employees Michelle Probst, Stephanie Klingler, Jamie Mahaffey, Jordan Michels and Mallory Weber, and also approved an honorable reduction in teaching responsibilities for Christina Wise.

Board members also voted to discontinue certain extra duty or stipend assignments and duties of several individuals, including Brock Tarr as assistant football coach and assistant track coach, Sandy Webb as assistant girls tennis coach, Kevin Volk as high school assistant scholastic bowl coach, Jason Fulton as Lettermen's Club sponsor, Blake Davidson as fifth and sixth grade basketball coach, Brian Kusnerick as high school assistant boys basketball coach, Jeanie Weddell as fifth and sixth grade cheerleading sponsor, Eric Schmidt as assistant boys tennis coach, Jackie Schackmann as Letterwomen's Club sponsor, Michelle Schafer as fifth and sixth grade volleyball coach, and reduced Darla Johnson's hours to 92 extended summer hours. The Board also reassigned Tina Shipman from head junior high volleyball coach to assistant coach and reassigned Sarah Will from head junior high girls track coach to assistant coach.

The Board also approved honorable dismissals for Angie Probst, Emily Myers, Lynn Slough, Kristie Finley, Becky Oldham, Gina Niemerg, Joni Milliman, Gayle Glumac, Darla Mahaffey, Kimberlin Wallace as aides, Vellena Schmidt and Gina Correll as cooks, Laura Miller, Karen Bolander and Marcea Maxon as chaperones, Sheryl Brinson, Amy Frohning and LeAnn Bradley as secretaries, Lee Bergbower, Carol Weiscope and Jackie Menke as custodians, and Tara Gallion.

Once again, all of those involved received honorable dismissals and could be recalled if finances and enrollment require it.

In other business Monday, the Jasper board approved administrative assignments as follows: 

--NCHS Principal Beth Probst

--JCJH Principal/Athletic Director/Assistant Superintendent Travis Wyatt

--Newton Elementary Principal Craig Carr

--Ste Marie Principal/District Curriculum Coordinator Kathy Johnson

--Special Needs Administrator Kim Kessler

--Newton Elementary Assistant Principal (a part-time position) Amy Tarr.

The Board approved Mona Duckwitz, Mashea Edwards, Angie Goebel and Holly Smith as substitutes; and approved the resignation of JCJH cheerleading coach Sandy Hartrich. Also, the Board renewed athletic training services with Richland Memorial Hospital; discussed the possibility of school bus leasing and borrowing for next school year; heard that Southeast Special Education is considering closing two classrooms for next year; and approved the Childcare Occupations course for the NCHS Family and Consumer Science department.

Board members also expelled a student for the rest of the school year, although the student could return next school year under principal's probation.